THE FREE PRESS SPORTS , NOVEMBER 3t 1994 cat; Serving it up with style Vesna Rukavina makes the move to college ball By JIM SWANSON Prince George Free Press The tallest player on the College of New Caledonia’s women’s volleyball team is adjusting to the jump from high school very well, thank you. At six-foot-two, Duchess Park graduate Vesna Rukavina provides the Kodiaks with a net presence they haven’t had for the last two years. First year head coach Cam Young is pleased to have the raw but talented middle/right side player on his squad, another key ingredient added to a team that will challenge for a spot at nationals. “Vesna gives us a lot of height, and that’s something we didn’t have last year,” says Young, who is confident his team will improve on last season’s 7-11 record. “We’ve been playing her in the middle and on the right side, and we’ve got a lot of players that can play on a regular basis. It’s good to have the depth, but there’s only six spots on the floor. Having a big block like her in the middle helps, and she’s learning because she’s got a good attitude. She’s improved a lot from the start of the year.” Young knows Rukavina’s potential from coaching her on a club team and, conversely, the 18-year-old knows what to expect from the CNC coach. Rukavina was one of two highly regarded recruits out of high school, along with former PGSS standout Melanie Paas. Young believes the added depth gives the Kodiaks an excellent shot at achieving success this season. “I’d like to finish top three and make it all the way to Edmonton for nationals,” says Young. “1 don’t think we’ll have any trouble making the playoffs, but then again I’ve only seen Trinity and Douglas.” The players have the same objective, reaching nationals, as a result of team meetings where they set goals heading into the opening B.C. Colleges Athletics Association regular season. The Kodiaks are not considered the favorites as the campaign begins, but believe they have the depth and chemistry needed for a championship calibre club. “I think we could go to nationals,” says Rukavina. “We’ve discussed it as a team already, and we all set a goal to make it there. This is a good team, everyone can play.” This will be a busy school year for team members. Besides the regular load that goes with being a student athlete, a trip to Belgium in the spring is also in the works for the Kodiaks. One of coach Young’s biggest tasks will be to keep his players focused on what has to be accomplished on this side of the Atlantic. One of the first aspects of Rukavina’s game Young worked on when she reached the collegiate level was in the most important area of volleyball - her serve. For a player with her leverage and raw ability, Rukavina had too much trouble winning points for her team. “It’s a step up from high school and it’s better ball,” says Rukavina, a social work student who is taking four classes. “I’ve never been very good on my serve, and I’ve never been very consistent. I was throwing the ball up too far, so I shortened the toss and started to focus more. When I get my serves over I feel really good because I know it’s the worst part of my game, and it boosts me up.” Young says that, more than tinkering with mechanics, she just needed to adjust her thinking when she took the ball behind the line. “We’ve been working on her serve quite a bit, because, honestly, she had a really bad serve when she started. It’s all confidence for her.” Rukavina had her serve working for the season’s first encounter, as the lady Kodiaks demolished BCIT in three straight games on Saturday, two of them by a score of 15-1. Rukavina kept BCIT at bay using her serve, winning a number of points on bombs that the visitors, with only one spare player on the bench, couldn’t handle. The real test for the entire club will come when they venture south to play Okanagan University College, the school that is tabbed as the team to beat. “It’s not really good to play a team like that especially when we go to Kelowna next week,” says Young, who gave everyone a lot of time on the floor against a much weaker BCIT squad. The results from this weekend’s games in Kelowna will be a good indication whether or not the Kodiaks have a national calibre group of athletes. EXPERIENCE AN INTERIOR DESIGNED FOR THE POSTERIOR. 1995 900 Sednn TEST DRIVE THE NEW 960 FROM VOLVO. 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